Cup dropper



J. E. DYE

CUP DROPPER Feb. 16, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1963 INVENTOR Jfl/VES 55x5 I W JTTOE/VEVS why-1 Feb. 16, 1965 J. E. DYE. 3,169,356

CUP DROPPER Filed Nov. 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I i fi F-' F 7 1r a i 2 I ie 44 2 cap INVENTOR.

J EZS' 5 9y: BY

147' TOR/KEYS Feb. 16, 1965 J. E. DYE 3,159,356

cu? DROPPER Filed Nov. 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

Feb. 16, 1965 J. E. DYE 3,

' CUP DROPPER Filed Nov. 1, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Jmvzs f. DYE

United States Patent 3,169,356 CUP DROPPER James E. Dye, Athens, Ga., assignor to Dye Sheet Metal Products, Inc., Athens, Ga., a corporation of Georgia 7 Filed Nov 1, 1963, Ser, No, 320,632

12 Claims. (Cl. 53-166) This invention relates to dispensers and more particularly to apparatus for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of lipped cup-like articles.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly adapted to dispense a plurality of drinking cups into position for filling so that a large number of individual drinks can be prepared quickly. The cup dropper of the invention is especially useful in avoiding a bottleneck in assembly line drink preparation at the point where the cups must be un-nested and positioned for filling. Assembly line drink preparation systems are most frequently used in areas which have high volume, high speed beverage sales such as sport stadiums, amusement parks, expositions, and the like.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide reliable apparatus for quickly dispensing a drinking cup from each of a plurality of stacksaof nested cups; the said apparatus having means for accurately positioning and retaining the dispensed cups to aid in their subsequent filling and transportation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of rack means to receive the dispensed cups in accurate positions for subsequent filling of the cups as by a multiheaded automatic filler device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the type described in which the dispenser can be manually actuated and reset for subsequent actuation with a low level of effort.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which includes a rack receiving platform which can be moved into close adjacency with the plurality of bulk stacks at the time that cups are dropped to prevent inaccurate placement of the cups in the rack and moved away from the stacks after the cups have been dropped to facilitate the advancing of the cup filled rack to subsequent stations in the filling line. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the bulk stacks are each contained in tubes positioned above a slide, the slide having means for supporting, the lowermost cup of each stack when in a first position and progressively wedging the lowermost cup of the stack from the adjacent cup in the particular stack, removing support from the former cup and supporting the latter as the slide is moved laterally with respect to the tubes toward its second position thereby resulting in the dispensing of the lowermost cup from each stack.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following detailed explanation, particular reference being made to the attached drawings wherein an illustrative example of a preferered embodiment of the invention is shown in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the cup dropper illustrating the raised position of the rack receiving tray in full lines and the lowered position thereof in dashed lines.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the cup dropper showing a rack in position on the tray. 7

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slide.

3,169,356 Patented Feb. 16, 1955 FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary frontelevation view similar to FIGURE 8, the slide being shown in the position of FIGURE 6. 7

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front elevation view similar to FIGURE 8, the slide being shown in the position of FIGURE 7. I

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slide and a tube and illustrating the relative positions of the slide, tube and lowermost cup immediately preceding the dispensing of the cup.

The preferred embodiment of the cup dropper 10, as best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is most advantageously fashioned from a durable, easily sanitized material such as stainless steel or the like and comprises a frame 12, which supports a plurality of vertically directed tubes 14 above a slide 16 and a vertically movable tray assembly 48.

As shown the frame 12 includes four vertically directed corner posts 20 of L-shaped cross section which are placed in a rectangular configuration. A plurality of cross pieces 22, secured to the posts 2%) by welding or bolting provide the frames rigidity. Of course, additional bracing could be employed beside that illustrated by way of example.

The plurality of tubes 14 are positioned among the posts 20 in a generally rectangular pattern as best shown in FIGURE 3. The tubes 14, which may conveniently be formed by bending and crimping-or welding sheet metal, are vertically directed and secured in position by upper and lower horizontal plates 24 through which they extend. The plates 24 have disk-shaped openings therethrough to receive the tubes 14 and are secured at their edges to the frame cross pieces and corner posts.

Each of the tubes 14 is generally cylindrical and has open ends. While theupper end of each tube is generally right circular, two generally rectangular strips are removed from opposite sides of the lower end of each tube 14 as to form slots 26 for reasons which will become apparent.

A pair of slide rails 28 are secured as by bolts 30 to the corner posts 20 and extend parallel to one another and generally horizontally immediately subjacent the lower ends of the tubes 14. Although slide rails of U-shaped :cross section are illustrated, ones of different design could ,be employed. The slide rails 28 receive the slide 16 for reciprocating movement in a substantially horizontal plane beneath the lower ends of the tubes 14. With particular reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the slide 16 comprises a plurality ofbar-like channel members 32 extending between the front and rear of the slide and a pair of transversely extending end members 34 attached respectively to the forward and rearward ends of thechannel members 32. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 8-l0 the channel members 32 most nearly adjacent the sides of the slide 16 cooperate with the slide rails to provide guides for the reciprocal movement of the slide and support for the slide with respect to the frame. The front transverse member 34 of the slide may conveniently carry an actuation handle 36 for manual reciprocation of the slide.

Each channel member 32 has mounted thereon a plurality of each of two types of supports 38, 40 mounted 'ness of a rolled cup lip.

I nel member 32 in a generally horizontal plane.

V in alternating relationship'along the length of the member.

The supports 38'and 40 on each member 32 are prefermember of inverted L-shaped cross section rigidly mounted on aside of a" channel member 32 "as by spot welding so that one leg of the support 38 extends transversely from the channel member 32 ina generallyhorizontal plane disposed below. the upper surface of the channel-member 32' a distance approximately equal to the normal thick- ,Each support 40 preferably extends transversely from the upper surface of the chan- Prefer ably, the tabs 42 areinthe form of small, generallyrrecslide, as will :be more As'shown FIGURE 1, the tray assembly48 canbe i raised and lowered through the use of a handle 64 provided as an extension of one lower arm 58 past its pivot point 619.

the handle-carrying arm'64 is spaced.rearvi/ardly on the I cross piece 22 a slightdistanceso that, as'the tray is raised bytrotating the handle 64 toward the front of the cup dropper, the pivot 60 associated with the handle 64 will be brought slightlyfover center as the upper end of the handle 64 contacts the adjacent cornerpost This tangular plates secured to the upper surfaces'of the chan 1 nel members 32. With the exception'of the tabs 42 most nearly adjacent the sides of the slide, each plate may. conon the channel members, for instance by stamping and bending. V t

The slide 16 additionally includes a plurality of ramplike members 44 formed similarly to the supports 38 and veniently form two VtabsQone projecting from either side of the associated channel member, as best illustrated in l 68 arranged in a pattern substantially-the same as that' of i y j upper position (shown in full lines in FIGURE "1) includes an elongate'drtab 42-rigidly mounted on a channel member 32 so-that it arrangement ensures'that'the tray 18 will remain in its the handle 64 is rotated rearwardly.

In using the cup dropper '19,;the slide handle 36is slid to its inner position (FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 8) and a nested stack of cups is deposited in each tube 14' in upward open- V 1 ing rightside up orientation.

thereof by supports 38 (PIGURESfSI andi8). I

A Wire rack '66 or similar device having compartments the tubes 14 is positioned'o'n the tray and the tray raised into place using the handle 64. (Markers'or steps mounted immediatelybeneaththetabs 421 Eaeh'member .44 includes an outwardly projecting portion 46 ex- I tending'in a plane generally. perpendicular to the side of the associated channel member 32' but oblique with'respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel-member.

Each ramp-lik'emember outwardly projecting portion 46 7 therefore meets the undersurface of the associated sup port tab 42at'the end of the tab nearest'the-support 38 of the support pair 38, 40 (see FIGURE 4);

The tab 42 of each support 40; lying in a substantially horizontal plane, and the obliqueportion'46 of.- each ramp-lik'e'member define to form a wedge having its apex pointed towardthe front of the: slide 16. I The structure of'the cup dropper embodiment as shown is completely by the vertically movable tray assembly 48 disposed between'the lower portions of the corner posts 26. The tray assembly preferably includesa tray having a generally flat, horizontally directed portion 50 extending between the side edges of the area delimited by the corner posts 20 and projecting a short distancebeyond the 'front' and 'rear of the area, delimited by the corner posts (FIGURE 1). Preferably, *the tray includes two "side walls 52 projecting upwardly at the lateral limits of the horizontal portion 50, i

i jlower arm 58 as at 60 and a connecting arm 62 isprovided ;to connectthe pivot points 60 on each?v side. In order to ensuref smooth operation of the ,tray, the pivotfpins V62 Guides 54 mounted on the outside surface of the walls -to its outer position.

such as those indicated at 66 inFIGURE 2 are preferably utilized to ensure the rapidand accurate-positioning of'the compartments 68 of therack 66 with respect to the lower ends of-thetubes 14.) I

To dispense a cup from each tube-14 into each: rack compartment 68, the slide handle 36 is pulled outward 7 As the'slide moves outwardly, as shown in sequence in FIGURES 5-8 and 9-l1, each sup port 38 ismoved forwardly away from a supporting relationship with the associated lowermost cup and the upper surface of each cup lip is engaged by the lower surface of a ramp-like member 44. At the same time that" the lowermost 'cup is-being wedged downwardly by the ad- Vance of the two ramp-like members the next cup'upward in each stack is becoming increasingly supported on the upper surfaceof. the tubes 42 of the supports 40. At' 'a point in the movement of the slide which is best shown in FIGURES 6 and 11, the amount of support provided by the supports 38 has diminished to such a degree,'and the downwardforce'exerted by the ramp-like members hecome so great that the lowermost cup in'each stack is dislodged from its supported position and drops neatly into the rack 66; It shouldbe noted that at this point the next cup upward in each stack, which'has become-"the lowermost cup, is fully supported along withthe'stack upon the two tabs 42 projecting'into the particular tube 14 through the slots 26. The cup-tilled'rack can then be removed from the cup dropper.byfrotating tthe handle 64 rear- Wardly and sliding the rack from the tray The cup dropper is prepared 'for the next dispensing cycleby. pushing the slidehandle rearwardly'causing the cups in the tubes' to again be supported by the upper surfaces of the-supports 38 acting on'the undersurface of the lip of the lowermost cup in Veach'stack.

During the dispensing of cups from the cup dropper, newnested stacks of cups can be placed in the tubes to; replace the dispensed cupsLf 4 i The cup-dropper as set forth above is particularly adapted foruse in vassembly line preparation of drinks in i which the stations subsequent to that'of the cup dropper may be rigidly secured 'to the"arms 58 on' one bottom I cross piece, zzandextendbeneath the tray to the arms 58v on vtheother bottom cross piece forming pivotpins for 7 these latter arms also. v

Cir

would include dispensing'crushed ice into each cup, filling, the cups with beverage from multiple filler heads, lidding the cups and attaching removable carrying handles to the racks so that the racks can be transported, as bytvendors,

. to the points of individualbevera'ge sales.

Although the cup dropper of the invention has beieh The handle 64 is preferably located on an arm 58 near the front of thecup dropper and maybe formed as an integral extension of meant. According to the embodiment of the invention shown, the pivot 62 associated with 'luntil particularly discussed as being susceptible to rapid and easy manual operation it should be realized that it would be within the purview of this invention to provide for automatic actuation of the slide handle 36, tray elevating handle 64, as well as automatic replenishing of the cups in the stacks.

It should now be apparent that the cup dropper as discussed herein and depicted in the drawings will fully accomplish the objects set forth at the beginning of this specification. It should also be realized that whereas a specific embodiment of the invention has been depicted and described to illustrate the principles of the invention, that many modifications could be made on the embodiment set forth without departing from the aforementioned principles. Therefore, the invention should not be limited in any sense by the particularities of the illustrative embodiment but only by the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously dispensing the lowermost cup from each of a plurality of stacks of nested, lipped cups comprising: means retaining said cup stacks spaced laterally from one another in a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending rows and a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows, said means also retaining said cups in substantially vertical, right side up orientation; slide means mounted for reciprocation in a substantially horizontal plane closely subjacent said stack retaining means between a first and a second position, first support means mounted in a substantially horizontal plane on the slide and arranged to supportingly engage the undersurface of the lip of the lowermost cup in each stack at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said lips when said slide is disposed in the first position thereof, said first support means being arranged on the slide to be moved from supporting relation with said cups as said slide is moved from the first toward the second position thereof; second support means mounted on the slide in substantially noncoextensive longitudinally alternating relationship with said first support means, said second support means being disposed in a substantially horizontal plane located above the plane of the first support means by at least the thickness of a cup lip and said second support means arranged on the slide to be moved into supporting relationship with the next cup upward from the lowermost cup in each stack as the slide is moved from the first position toward the second position thereof, thereby dispensing only the lowermost cup from each stack.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cup stack retaining means comprise a plurality of hollow, open-ended tubes each receiving a stack of nested cups.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slide comprises a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending bar-like members from which the first and second support means extend laterally into partially constricting relation with said tubes.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first and second support means include fiat plate-like elements mounted on the bar-like slide members.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each tube includes means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots therein adjacent the lowermost end of the tube and each first and second support element is arranged on a bar-like slide member to reciprocate through a slot as the slide is reciprocated between its first and second positions.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 additionally com prising ramp-like elements projecting from the bar-like slide members immediately beneath each second support means, said ramp-like elements being arranged to exert an increasing downward force on the lowermost cup of each stack as the slide is moved from its first position to ward its second position.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 additionally comprising a means disposed beneath the slide for receiving and retaining the spaced relationship of the lowermost cups.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cupreceiving means includes a generally horizontally extending tray and a removable compartmented rack accurately positionable on said tray utilizing stop means mounted on said tray.

9. Apparatus for simultaneously dispensing the lowermost cup from each of a plurality of stacks of nested, lipped cups comprising: means retaining said cup stacks spaced laterally from one another and retaining said cups in substantially vertical, right side up orientation; slide means mounted for reciprocation in a substantially horizontal plane closely subjacent said stack retaining means between a first and second position, first support means mounted in a substantially horizontal plane on the slide and arranged to supportingly engage the undersurface of the lip of the lowermost cup in each stack at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said lips when said slide is disposed in the first position thereof, said first support means being arranged on the slide to be moved from supporting relation with said cups as said slide is moved from the first toward the second position thereof; second support means mounted on the slide in substantially noncoextensive longitudinally alternating relationship with said first support means, said second support means being disposed in a substantially horizontal plate located above the plane of the first support means by at least the thickness of a cup lip and said second support means arranged on the slide to be moved into supporting relationship with the next cup upward from the lowermost cup in each stack as the slide is moved from the first position toward the second position thereof, thereby dispensing only the lowermost cup from each stack; cup receiving means including a generally horizontally extending tray and a removable compartmented rack disposed beneath the slide for receiving and retaining the spaced relationship of the lowermost cups, the rack being accurately positionable on said tray utilizing stop means mounted on the tray; and means for vertically moving the tray with respect to the cup stacks between a first, lower position wherein the rack is easily positionable and removable from the tray, and a second higher position wherein the rack is so nearly subjacent the slide that the cups dispensed by the slide reciprocation accurately land in the corresponding compartments of said rack.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the cupretaining means are supported by a plurality of corner posts and the tray is disposed among said posts adjacent the lower ends of the posts.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for elevating the tray includes a toggle mounted between two of the corner posts and having an operating handle arranged to contact one of the posts when the handle has rotated the toggle slightly beyond its position of greatest extent thereby providing a stop for maintaining the tray in its upper position.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 additionally including guides mounted on said tray and arranged to slidingly engage the corner posts thereby limiting the movement of the tray to a vertical component.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,727 1/14 Claussen 221221 1,666,008 4/28 Graffenberger 221221 1,963,621 6/34 Geyer 221-221 2,718,981 9/55 Brodsky 22l-221 3,083,868 4/63 Mueller 221-93 X EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPENSING THE LOWERMOST CUP FROM EACH OF A PLURALITY OF STACKS OF NESTED, LIPPED CUPS COMPRISING: MEANS RETAINING SAID CUP STACKS SPACED LATERALLY FROM ONE ANOTHER IN A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ROWS AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED, LONGITUDINALLY OF LONGIROWS, SAID MEANS ALSO RETAINING SAID CUPS IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL, RIGHT SIDE UP ORIENTATION; SLIDE MEANS MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE CLOSELY SUBJACENT SAID STACK RETAINING MANS BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION, FIRST SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE ON THE SLIDE AND ARRANGE TO SUPPORTINGLY ENGAGE THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE LIP OF THE LOWER MOST CUP IN EACH STACK AT A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED POINTS ON EACH OF SAID LIPS WHEN SAID SLID IS DISPOSED IN THE FIRST POSITION THEREOF, SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEANS BEING ARRANGED ON THE SLIDE TO BE MOVED FROM SUPPORTING RELATION WITH SAID SUPS AS SAID SLIDE IS MOVED FROM THE FIRST TOWARD THE SECOND POSITION THEREOF; SECOND SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SLIDE IN SUBSTANTIALLY NONCOEXTENSIVE LONGITUDINALLY ALTERNATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FIRST SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEANS BEING 